Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A sudden loss of muscle tone and strength, usually caused by an extreme emotional stimulus.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A sudden nervous shock which immobilizes or paralyzes the subject.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Med.) A morbid condition caused by an overwhelming shock or extreme fear and marked by rigidity of the muscles.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun medicine An abrupt loss of muscle tone, sometimes associated with narcolepsy.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From Greek kataplēxis, fixation (of the eyes), from kataplēssein, to astound, terrify : kata-, intensive pref.; see cata– + plēssein, plēk-, to strike; see plāk- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From German Kataplexie, from Ancient Greek κατάπληξις (kataplēksis).

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Examples

  • The 67-year-old has a sleep disorder called cataplexy, which is a symptom of narcolepsy.

    msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines 2010

  • Narcoleptics like Cloud also suffer from a bizarre condition called cataplexy, in which they can collapse in a heap on the ground, conscious but essentially paralyzed.

    In Search Of Sleep 2008

  • Carol Bell, 67, has a condition called cataplexy --it's a sleep disorder that causes temporary paralysis, and it's brought on by a particular emotion or feeling.

    msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines 2010

  • Individuals with the sleep disorder narcolepsy suffer with excessive daytime sleepiness and attacks of muscle paralysis triggered by strong emotions (a condition known as cataplexy).

    EurekAlert! - Breaking News 2010

  • The anticipation of the sugary cereal triggers one of the most striking symptoms of the disease: a temporary loss of muscle control called cataplexy, causing mice to drop in their tracks.

    Boston.com Most Popular 2009

  • However, doctors can prescribe medications that can be effective in controlling excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, and sleep disruption.

    Narcolepsy 2010

  • Attacks of cataplexy are sudden, brief losses of muscle control.

    Narcolepsy 2010

  • The four most common symptoms are excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations.

    Narcolepsy 2010

  • The experiences of cataplexy and dreaming during wakefulness may be wrongly seen as a psychiatric problem.

    Narcolepsy 2010

  • Unlike cataplexy, touching the person usually causes the paralysis to disappear.

    Narcolepsy 2010

Comments

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  • transparent cathouse

    April 3, 2009

  • Wouldn't that be a plexicat?

    April 23, 2009

  • Haha!

    April 23, 2009